Audi TT v Nissan 370Z v Peugeot RCZ

Imitation is said to be the sincerest form of flattery. If so, the folks at Audi must be feeling pretty chuffed since the Peugeot RCZ appeared. The first Pug not to have a number for a name draws obvious inspiration from Audi's popular and pertly formed TT two-door sports coupe.

While their shapes are uncannily similar, they share more than exterior design: both are 2+2s with afterthought rear seating; both are powered by clean, sophisticated, direct-injection turbocharged four-cylinder engines; and both are front-wheel-drive.

Maybe making the Audi crew a bit less smug is the RCZ's pricing, which pitches it into the market $9000-odd cheaper than the base-model TT, while outdoing the latter for standard equipment, engine power and torque.

Both the Pug and Audi are the definition of the modern, efficient sports car; both sacrifice brute force for clever technology.

So does the RCZ out-TT the TT? It's the obvious question and one we are here to answer. But here's a less-obvious query: no matter which proves the better, are the RCZ and TT good sports cars — or even worthy automotive packages?

That's why the Nissan 370Z is here. It's everything these two are not. Bluff, loud, powered by a naturally aspirated V6 and rear-wheel-drive. There's no imitation or imitators when it comes to Nissan's cool coupe.

All three cars arrive pitched between $54,990 and $67,990 (plus on-road and dealer costs). Our test cars all come with six-speed manual transmissions, not because of any sporting pretensions but because this is the only choice for these engine variants of the Audi and Peugeot.

The RCZ is the newest car and the TT the oldest, although a recent update delivered the mildest of styling tweaks. The second generation of the reborn Zed has been around for 18 months.